Large windows at the LEED-certified Fitzpatrick Center at Duke University have been blamed for killing 85 birds in nine weeks. This is more than any other building on campus.
More birds die from colliding with buildings at Duke than on any other campus in a 45-school survey conducted by Augustana College. Duke is located along the Atlantic Flyway, a bird migration route.
A representative for Duke’s Bird Window Collision Project says that LEED and other green building programs encourage designs that invite natural light to reduce energy use.
The large windows that enable natural light are a bird hazard. Some one billion birds die each year when they collide with windows, the American Bird Conservancy has estimated.
The Bird Window Collision Project is discussing with the university about ways to retrofit the glass windows on the Fitzpatrick Center. Options include covering the glass with UV-reflective films, which birds can see, or etching a pattern into the glass.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jul 13, 2021
Reluctance to fund maintenance on older condos is a serious problem
Owner associations defer needed work, putting properties at risk.
Codes and Standards | Jul 12, 2021
Regulations on hydrofluorocarbons reduce roof insulation options
Canada, some U.S. states ban HFC blowing agents used in closed-cell foam.
Codes and Standards | Jul 8, 2021
New York City shuts down 322 construction sites for unsafe conditions
Action comes as inspectors visit more than 2,100 sites.
Codes and Standards | Jul 7, 2021
Bechtel, Nautilus partner on sustainable, high-performance data centers
Facilities would use 70% less power for cooling, eliminate consumption of drinking water.
Codes and Standards | Jul 7, 2021
Surfside condo collapse could spur new legislation
Natl. Institute of Standards and Technology is investigating.
Codes and Standards | Jul 7, 2021
Intl. Code Council appoints committees to lead energy code development
One-third of appointees are government regulators.
Codes and Standards | Jul 1, 2021
COVID-19 made payment delays to contractors much worse
Only one in ten companies is always getting paid in full.
Codes and Standards | Jun 30, 2021
New resource for public sector organizations to develop energy data management program
Dept. of Energy document contains more than 30 examples of successful implementations.
Codes and Standards | Jun 29, 2021
Biden China policy may spur more increased U.S. PV manufacturing capacity
Senate bill proposes advanced solar manufacturing production credit.
Codes and Standards | Jun 28, 2021
Local and state building energy performance standards aim to curb climate change
Owners must up the ante on operations and retrofits.